World’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor

The focus of the sector has accordingly switched from batteries to engines – and the results have been impressive, to say the least.

In 2023, Canadian company Duxion Motors carried out a successful test of its eJet Motor, the world’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor.

Not only is it much lighter than other engines, but it is more reliable and capable of producing a thrust/power ratio on a par with the propulsion of a 50-seater regional jet.

Inspired by Wright Electric's 2 MW engine, which uses high-voltage and advanced thermal strategies to enable 2,700 horsepower, Duxion’s engine uses permanent magnet technology to deliver power-to-weight ratios within a design that is both compact and flexible.

Duxion recently signed a deal to supply Dymond Aerospace's forthcoming fleet of 100 cargo planes with 200 eJet motors.

MIT develop 1 MW motor ideal for hybrid propulsion systems

Subject to testing in June 2024, interest is also expected to be high in a new 1 MW motor created by MIT engineers in 2023, which is capable of producing significantly more power than the motors onboard small electric planes like the Eviation Aircraft prototype Alice.

It’s encouraging to note the MIT motor and power electronics take up minimal space and weight: the equivalent of two suitcases and two smallish passengers. In comparison, batteries on new generation electric aircraft can account for 65 percent of the weight.

Experts believe the MIT creation will be best suited to hybrid propulsion systems – and that is clearly where the focus is switching.

At a time when passengers are returning to the skies in huge numbers and OEM order books are severely backlogged, the bigger the capacity the better.

Are robots the MRO workers of the future?

Digital services

Quick Links

Quick Links

Legal Links

Electric engine ingenuity breathing new life into sector weighed down by big batteries